Woodland Park Church Constitution Proposal
Dear Church Family,
As your Pastors and Elders, we are writing to share a series of proposed amendments to our church constitution. These recommendations follow a thoughtful, prayerful season of evaluation by the Leadership Structure Review Team (LSRT), the General Council of Elders, and the Pastors, with the aim of strengthening how our church is led in light of both Scripture and our present ministry needs.
Over time, we have recognized that the ability of our elders to focus on their primary responsibilities—Doctrine, Vision, and Discipline—has at times been limited by administrative and operational demands. These proposed changes are not about change for its own sake, but about positioning our church for greater clarity, health, and effectiveness in the years ahead.
More specifically, these recommendations seek to:
• Clarify the role of elders by refocusing their efforts on doctrine, spiritual leadership, and vision.
• Unify leadership by formally including staff elders (pastors) within the Elder Body to ensure alignment.
• Streamline ministry structures so that teams and councils can carry more of the day-to-day ministry work, allowing for greater agility and effectiveness.
• Enhance clarity and accountability across the life of the church.
Our hope is that these changes will both strengthen leadership and create more meaningful opportunities for every member to serve and contribute to the life of the body.
As outlined in our current governing documents, any constitutional amendments require a 75% affirmation from the membership. We want to encourage you to take time to carefully review the full packet and FAQ, attend one of the upcoming forums, and engage in this process with prayerful thoughtfulness.
We are grateful for the unity and faithfulness of this church family, and we trust the Lord to guide us as we walk through this together.
Grace and peace, The Pastors and Elders Woodland Park Baptist Church
FAQ
Are we changing our doctrinal beliefs or statement of faith?
No. These amendments do not change our doctrinal position. Article III (Doctrine) remains intact. The changes are about how we are structured and led, not what we believe.
So what's changed?
Not to be overly technical, but nothing yet. The Leadership Structure Review Team (LSRT) held several meetings earlier this year to make constitutional recommendations to the pastors and elders. The pastors and elders received and approved the recommendations, and now we are putting them before the body. Any constitutional changes will require a 75% affirmation from our membership.
So nothing has changed yet—but what is being proposed?
For a detailed explanation, we encourage you to review the full packet that has been provided.
In summary, the proposed 2026 amendments (1) rename the General Council of Elders as the “Elder Body,” intending to reflect a cultural shift in how the elders function as a governing body, (2) add all pastors to the Elder Body, (3) require a plurality of elders from the laity but remove the pastor/laity ratio; (4) remove the numerical cap on elders on the Elder Body as well as elder term limits, (5) reinstitute a unanimity requirement for matters of Doctrine, Discipline, and Vision; (6) refocus the Elder Body on the oversight of the Doctrine, Discipline, and Vision of the church and effective communication back to the congregation, while (7) reemphasizing the engagement of the congregation as deacons
and Ministry Council members to do the work of service in the church.
Why are we proposing these changes now?
These proposed amendments come from a desire to strengthen how our church is led in light of Scripture and our current reality. Over time, we have seen that our elders’ ability to focus on their primary responsibilities—Doctrine, Discipline, and Vision—has at times been limited by structural constraints and by carrying responsibilities better suited for the councils and ministry teams.
In summary, the proposed changes aim to:
• Clarify the role of elders by focusing on doctrine, vision, and spiritual direction
• Include pastors fully within the Elder Body
• Streamline ministry structures so that teams and councils under pastoral direction carry more of the day-to-day ministry work
• Create clearer alignment, accountability, and effectiveness across the church
The goal is not simply structural change, but to refocus leadership where Scripture places it and to better equip our entire church body to serve faithfully and effectively.
Will there be a time when someone in leadership will explain the proposed amendments to our church body?
Yes! There will be two members’ forums where elders, pastors, and members of the Leadership Structure Review team will be on hand to walk through the LSRT’s recommendations, answer any questions that arise, and receive your feedback.
• Sunday, May 17, 6:00p
• Wednesday, May 20, 6:00p
How can I help?
There are several meaningful ways to engage:
• Pray — for wisdom, unity, and clarity across our entire church body
• Participate — take time to read the materials and attend a forum if possible
• Serve — as opportunities arise, use your gifts in ministry teams, councils, and other areas of church life
• Encourage — speak words of support to those serving; encouragement is often more impactful than we realize and can serve as a powerful catalyst for change
This is a season where every member plays a role.
Who can I contact if I have concerns or questions?
Great question! Depending on the nature of your concern or question, you can reach out to the elders at elders@woodlandpark.org, or you can reach out to any of the LSRT team members (Mike Jennings, Jeff Longenecker, Bill Kuntze, Jim Barclay, Jeremy Grauman, Brian Turner, Nathan Strait, Nathan Daugherty).
Is there anything you would like us to know?
We understand that even with the proposed amendments to our church constitution, unforeseen issues can and will arise. However, we believe that the proposed changes are robust enough to help bring about needed change. We also understand and expect that cultivating a healthy leadership structure for our body will be a work in progress that will require much grace and prayer.